WASHINGTON
-- The Federal Election Commission is making public nine cases resolved
in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. This brings to 202
the total number of cases released since the ADR program began October
2, 2000. The program's goal is to expedite resolution of some enforcement
matters, reduce the cost of processing complaints, and enhance overall
FEC enforcement. Closed ADR negotiated settlement summaries are available
in the FEC's Press and Public Records offices.

For a case to be considered for ADR treatment, a respondent
must express willingness to engage in the ADR process, agree to set aside
the statute of limitations while the case is pending in the ADR Office,
and agree to participate in bilateral negotiations and, if necessary,
mediation.

Bilateral negotiations through ADR are oriented toward reaching
an expedient resolution with a mutually agreeable settlement that is both
satisfying to the respondent(s) and in compliance with the Federal Election
Campaign Act (FECA). Resolutions reached through direct and, when necessary,
mediated negotiations are submitted to the Commissioners for final approval.
If a resolution is not reached in bilateral negotiation, the case proceeds
by mutual agreement to mediation. It should be noted that cases resolved
through ADR are not precedential.

The Commission rejected the consolidated settlement agreement for LeSueur for Congress ’04 resolving ADRs 196, 198, 200, and 213 and closed the file. The Commission dismissed the complaint as it pertains to LeSueur for Congress ’04 in ADR 199 and closed the file. Statement of Reasons were issued by Chairman Thomas and Commissioners Mason, Smith and Weintraub.

DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:

Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 196,198,199,200 or 213 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington.

Respondents acknowledge that not all receipts were reported in the 2003 Year-End Report as required by the Act. Respondents further state that they have taken a number of steps to ensure that complete disclosure reports are filed timely. The steps include contracting with a new bank, creating a new department to deal exclusively with record maintenance, changing to FEC approved software, hiring a compliance consultant, and sending three Committee staff to an FEC seminar in May of 2004. In an effort to avoid similar errors in the future, Respondents agree to send the director of records maintenance to an FEC seminar within 12 months.

DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:

Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 225 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington.

Respondents acknowledge that some inadvertent reporting omissions may have occurred due to their inexperience, but denied the allegations of excessive or prohibited contributions, and a lack of disclaimers on public communications, i.e. the Committee website. Respondents, in an effort to resolve this matter, agree to work with Commission staff to terminate the committee.

DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:

Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 238 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington.

The ADR Office recommends the matter be dismissed and the Commission agrees to close the file.

DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:

Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 266 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington.

The ADR Office recommends the matter be dismissed and the Commission agrees to close the file.

DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:

Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 269 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington.